Politics
Government promises to reduce food prices amid protests
The government has promised to reduce the cost of food staples after a backlash from within the ruling party and protests by the opposition over an abrupt hike in food and electricity prices
03 Oct 2016, 09:00
Maldives calls for ‘environment conducive to holding SAARC summit’
The Maldives has urged member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to create an environment conducive for holding the regional body’s 19th summit after it was postponed amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.
02 Oct 2016, 09:00
Government hopes to begin direct talks with opposition by mid October
The government is open to discussing the release of opposition leaders and has agreed to an opposition demand for mediation by the United Nations, the fisheries minister said.
29 Sep 2016, 09:00
Commonwealth envoy warned of ‘severe democracy deficit’ in Maldives
“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
28 Sep 2016, 09:00
Head of state utility corporation replaced with former MP
The dismissal of Fenaka Corporation’s Managing Director Mohamed Nimal comes weeks after a US$1 million corruption scandal surfaced in local media. The state utility company has reportedly been unable to recover MVR17 million released to a local company to purchase dollars.
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
Raajje TV admits allegations of fraud against tax commissioner was a mistake
Raajje TV said it made a mistake by publishing allegations of fraud against the tax commissioner, Mohamed Yazeed, who has sued the station for defamation over the report
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
MDP decides to join all-party talks
The MDP’s national council decided to heed the Commonwealth’s call for time-bound dialogue without preconditions “to achieve national agreement on institutional reform, and to ensure a conducive environment for credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018.”
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
EC promises to release political party funds ahead of January’s polls
“We are trying to distribute the funds as soon as possible. It will be given before the preparations for local council elections begin for sure,” EC member Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today. “All that’s remaining now is the administrative procedures to distribute the money.”
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
After Commonwealth warning, government renews call for dialogue
On Sunday, the government asked the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party to send details of its representatives for all-party talks “as they were the only parties who have not yet done so despite several previous requests.”
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
Ridicule and relief after president mistakenly proclaims island uninhabited
A decree issued on Thursday declaring Mundoo as uninhabited was rescinded later that night with the president’s office blaming incorrect information from the department of national registration and apologising to the island’s small population.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Fuvahmulah declared Maldives’ third city
As Fuvahmulah is uniquely both an island and its own atoll, it currently has an atoll council as well as island councils for each of its eight administrative wards, with a total of 30 elected councillors. However, the island will now have a three-member city council.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Maldives seeks election to UN Security Council
Citing under-representation of small states in the UN’s main bodies, Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim announced Saturday the Maldives’ candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2019-2020.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Catering firm awarded project to build bridge viewing platform
Strada Pvt Ltd, a food and beverage firm owned by a senior ruling party official, will bear the MVR8 million (US$518,800) cost, according to the housing ministry.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Maldives placed on Commonwealth agenda, warned of suspension
The Maldives has been placed on the Commonwealth’s formal agenda and warned of suspension, with officials citing “deep disappointment” at the country’s lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis.
24 Sep 2016, 09:00
Immigration revokes passport of MDP chairperson, ex-vice president’s associates
“We have shared this information with other countries. Hence, if they travel using this passport, they will face problems at the point of entry and immigration will not be responsible for any inconvenience or loss they may have to face,” said Hassan Khaleel, the department’s media official.
22 Sep 2016, 09:00
Court orders reinstatement of ex-president’s bodyguard
The civil court ordered the defence ministry on Monday to reinstate a senior military officer who was unfairly dismissed in the wake of President Abdulla Yameen’s inauguration in November 2013. Sergeant Major Naushad Ali was among nine high-ranking officers fired over accusations of sowing discord within the military ahead of the 2013 presidential election.
20 Sep 2016, 09:00
Commonwealth urged to suspend Maldives over ‘slide to dictatorship’
A New Delhi-based human rights group has urged the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog to suspend the Maldives from the organisation over an unresolved and protracted political crisis, warning that “the nation is sliding into a dictatorial system once again.”
19 Sep 2016, 09:00
PPM denies talks between Nasheed and Gayoom
Abdul Aleem Adam, the PPM’s deputy secretary-general, accused the exiled opposition leader of “lying to bring to President Maumoon into disrepute and to create discord among PPM members.”
15 Sep 2016, 09:00
Committee to Protect Journalists condemns raid of Maldives Independent office
The New York-based press freedom organisation also called on the government to “immediately stop all attempts to intimidate the press, and send a clear message to Maldives Independent editor Zaheena Rasheed that she can return home without fear of persecution.”
13 Sep 2016, 09:00
Transparency calls for ‘broad investigation’ after corruption exposé
Anti-corruption NGO Transparency Maldives has called for a broad and independent investigation into allegations raised in an Al Jazeera exposé about systemic corruption, abuse of power and criminal activity at the highest level of government.
13 Sep 2016, 09:00
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